Raw Water Source is best described as which of the following?

• A. Untreated water supply potentially containing foreign materials.
• B. Treated water supply ready for use.
• C. Groundwater with no contaminants.
• D. Pressurized water supply for sprinkler systems.

Answer: (A)

Raw water source means an untreated water supply that may contain foreign materials. The term “raw” implies the water hasn’t been cleaned or filtered to remove solids, debris, or other contaminants, so it could carry sediment, rust, algae, leaves, or other materials that could affect sprinkler performance. In NFPA 13R design, recognizing raw water as untreated helps you plan for potential solids, the need for strainers or screens, and possible treatment considerations before the water is used by the system. The other descriptions describe water that has been treated or refer to concepts (like pressure) unrelated to water quality, so they don’t match the meaning of a raw water source.